Clothes-steamer



No. 750,483. 7 PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904. J. A. OWENS.

CLOTHES STBAMER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

,P -CL a I o 12/ i 6 2% (2E o g p Hdiigzsszs. WW by Jhrmz s Patented January 26, 1904.

JOHN A. OIVENS, OF MOULTRIE,GEORGIA.

CLOTH ES -STEAMER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 750,483, dated January 26, 1904.

Application filed August 17, 1903. flerial No. 169,8l0. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN A. OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moultrie, in the county of Colquitt and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Clothes- Steamer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus whereby clothes are cleansed by the action of steam, and has for its object to simplify and improve devices of this character and produce an apparatus of simple construction, readily applied and operated, and in which the clothes may be quickly cleansed and the water of condensation conducted from the apparatus and not permitted to commingle with the water employed to generate the steam.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation: Fig. 2 is a plan view with the cover removed.

The improved apparatus comprises an inclosing casing 10, of any approved form and size, and preferably of galvanized iron or steel, with copper bottom and with a detachable cover 11 of relatively extended cone shape, as shown. Transversely disposed within the casing 10 is a partition 12, forming a watercompartment 13 and a steam-compartment 14, respectively below and above the partition, as shown. Rising from the partition 12is a tube 15, having numerous perforations 16, but with the lowermost perforations spaced a considerable distance above the partition, so that the water of condensation will not flow back into the water-compartment. To this end a drawoff member 17 is arranged in the lower portion of the steam-compartment to carry away the condensed water and prevent it overflowing into the water-compartment. Within the water-compartment an inclined supply-pipe 18 is arranged with its inner end near the bottom of the water-compartment and the outer end above the high-water line therein. The outer end of this supply-pipe is provided with a detachable cap 19, having a whistle 20,

which will be sounded and an alarm given in event of the water falling below its inner end. By this arrangement if a certain predetermined quantity of water is supplied to the compartment 13 the-whistle will sound after a certain desired time has elapsed and dispense with the necessity for timing the operation by. the attendant.

. Disposed at intervals within the steamingcompartment are supports 21 for holding wire racks 22, the latter preferably of galvanized or other non-corrosive metal.

Attached to the lower part of the cover memher is a diaphragm 23, having an imperforate portion so disposed as to extend over the open tube when the cover is in position to prevent the rinsing-water passing into said tube and with the remainder thereof perforated, and connected into the cover, preferably in its apex, as shown, is an inlet 24 of funnel shape throughwhich the rinsing-water is supplied, as hereinafter described.

When thus constructed, the operation is as follows: The requisite amount of water is supplied to the compartment 13 through the supply means 18 and the cap 19 restored to its place. The garments to be cleansed hav ing been soaked in water and thoroughly soaped are disposed in layers upon the racks 22, the latter being removable, as above noted, to permit of this arrangement. This arrangement keeps the garments separated, so that reason of the separated condition in which they are supported. Any water of condensation whichmay accrue falls to the bottom of the compartment 14 and is drawn off by the member 17 and not permitted to return to the compartment 13. The water in the compartment 13 is thus never contaminated by the dirt separated from the garments, but

injure the colored garments.

fresh clean water is always used from which to generate the steam. This is an important feature of the invention and adds materially to its efiiciency and value. When the steaming has produced the required efiect, a supply of fresh clean water is passed into the casing above the diaphragm 23 through the funnel 24 and is distributed by the diaphragm into the casing in spray form and is uniformly distributed and percolates through the garments, thoroughly rinsing them and removing the dirt loosened by the steam, which is carried away by the outlet 17, as will be obvious. By this arrangement garments of different kinds and quality may be washed without deleterious effect, as garments of different kinds may be separately supported upon the racks22, as will be obvious. In this apparatus also colored garments and those of white goods may be washed together without danger of the dye from the colored garments impregnating the white garments, as the latter can be placed upon the upper racks and the former upon the lower racks, so that the drippings from the colored garments will never pass through the white garments, while the drippings from the white garments will not This is also an important feature of the invention and adds materially to its efliciency and value and materially enlarges its scope and usefulness.

The rinse-water may be supplied to the funnel-inlet 24 from any suitable source, such as a pipe 25, leading from a tank, hydrant, pump, or other supply.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In an apparatus of the class described, a

casing having a cover and provided with a transverse partition spaced from the bottom, a perforated tube extending upwardly from said partition, means for supplying Water to said casing below said partition, and a drawoff leading from said casing above said partition, adjacent thereto.

2. A clothes-steamer comprising a vessel having a transverse partition spaced from the bottom thereof, said partition having an aperture therein, spaced racks supported in said vessel above said partition, a perforated tube extending upwardly from said partition over said aperture, and an outlet leading from said vessel above and at a point adjacent to said partition, and an inlet for said vessel arranged below said partition, that portion of the tube between the partition and the first rack above it being imperforate.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,an inclosing casing having a transverse partition spaced from the bottom thereof to form a Water-compartment in the lower part, a perforated tube extending upwardly from said water-compartment, an outlet for said casing disposed above and adjacent to said partition, a detachable cover to said casing, a diaphragm with an imperforate portion arranged over said tube and with the remainder thereof perforated, said cover having a water-inlet above said diaphragm.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. OWENS.

Witnesses:

J. A. COLLIER, JAs. A. HUMPHREYS. I 

